20 THINGS I LEARNED FROM COVID 19

1. The comfort of physical touch cannot be replaced by audio visual stimuli.

2. Food is more important than trinkets and consumable junk.  Food workers are least appreciated until they are not there. And not supported when they are needed the most.

3. Asking younger adults to sacrifice for the elderly is not respecting their needs.  It reverses the cycle of life.

4. End of life care (nursing homes) is not reliable or safe.  If you can’t care for yourself,  no one else will do it for you reliably.   But lots of companies will try to make money pretending to do it.

5. Our healthcare system is broken.  Health is an attitude toward life,  not a way to stimulate the GDP.

6. A country that fractures politically in a crisis is very vulnerable, and shows a breakdown in leadership.

7. We no longer have a functioning central government, just a beltway for lobbyists. 

8. The weakness of the federal government is allowing states to reassert themselves.  Given the very different values of some states from others,  this is probably necessary. 

9. The central bank’s ability to stabilize the economy depends on its ability to exert appropriate influence in various markets.  When this is interfered with by special interests it cannot be effective.  The assurances about supporting small business are lies because the funding earmarked for small business is not accessible in a reliable fashion.  The US federal government is motivated to protect large businesses as the easiest solution to producing a rebound economy.

10. It is possible to do a lot of business on the internet digitally,  but not all business.

11. Not driving saves the environment.  Not buying stuff saves the environment.  Not wanting so much stuff does not make us poorer.  Wanting stuff we cannot afford makes us poorer.

12. Not using so much energy reduces the importance of oil in the economy.  The country has not figured out an alternative commodity to stimulate business.

13.Spending more time with people we love builds the relationship (or ends a false one).

14. The need to travel somewhere means we are not happy where we are.  The vulnerability of the hospitality industry reflects its role in distracting us from our lives.

15. How are we surviving without filling up life with sporting events and mass gatherings?  Why are they so important?  Emotionally and economically?

16. What would a “simpler” society look like? Would it be economically stable?

17. International supply chains for products save money but complicate access.  What does a country need to produce for its own security?

18. Anyone we honor as a “hero” we treat as expendable.  Policemen, first responders, EMTs, nurses, doctors have all become part of the “saving lives at the expense of themselves and their families”, and called “heroes”, but get furloughed when the cities or hospitals run out of money.

19. Many people aged 18-45 were already struggling in the economy, and are faced with greater economic hardships with this downturn.  Where is the economic focus on their needs?  A one time payment of $1200 covers one months rent in many places.  What happens to them after that?

20. The flowers are blooming this Spring.  There are lots of birds around.  Slowing down to appreciate the natural world does not cost money or make money for someone else.  Is it still worthwhile?